Quranic root
خبت
kh · b · t
The root centers on lowering and humble submission, especially an inward state of reverent yielding.
Its concrete point of departure is خَبْتٌ, a low or depressed tract of ground. The derived verb develops from directing oneself toward or entering such a low place to the figurative sense of becoming lowly, gentle, and submissive before God.
- Maqāyīs · row 1500
- Mufradāt · row 383
- 2
- Quran-attested forms
- 2
- Quran senses
- 3
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
أَخْبَتَ
ʾakhbata
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form IV
- Form
- IV
- Quran occurrences
- 2 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
To become lowly, humble, submissive, and obedient; to humble oneself and turn trustfully toward God.
In the Quranic constructions أَخْبَتُوا إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ and فَتُخْبِتَ لَهُ قُلُوبُهُمْ, the verb expresses inward submission to God. With hearts as subject, it denotes their becoming soft and reverently humble; the preposition may convey direction or dedication toward Him.
- Lane · entry 18290
- Mufradāt · row 383
Selected Quran examples
Quran 11:23word 6
“and humble themselves”
Quran 22:54word 11
“and may humbly submit”
مُخْبِتٌ
mukhbitun
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
A person humble and submissive before God; one whose heart is softened in reverent submission.
Active participle of Form IV, occurring in the Quran in the masculine plural مُخْبِتِينَ.
- Mufradāt · row 383
- Lane · entry 18290
Selected Quran examples
Quran 22:34word 20
“(to) the humble ones”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 11:23وَأَخْبَتُوٓا۟and humble themselves
- 22:34ٱلْمُخْبِتِينَ(to) the humble ones
- 22:54فَتُخْبِتَand may humbly submit
Broader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 7 Classical meanings
خَبَتَ ذِكْرُهُ
For a person's or thing's mention or reputation to become concealed, obscure, or without repute.
Used specifically with ذِكْرٌ, ‘mention’ or ‘reputation’.
- Lane · entry 18289
خَبَتَ
In a reported dialectal or traditional usage, to be bad or corrupt.
Equated in the lexical entry with خَبُثَ; this is distinct from the Form IV Quranic sense.
- Lane · entry 18289
أَخْبَتَ
To head toward or descend into a خَبْتٌ, a low or depressed tract of ground.
A literal spatial use of the Form IV verb, distinct from its Quranic figurative use of humble submission.
- Lane · entry 18290
- Mufradāt · row 383
خَبْتٌ
A low or depressed tract of ground, including a broad plain, sandy lowland, valley bottom, or deep valley.
The term covers several kinds of spacious or low terrain, including soft or concealed low ground.
- Lane · entry 18291
خَبْتَةٌ
Lowliness, humility, or submissiveness.
A figurative abstract noun for the state of being lowly or submissive.
- Lane · entry 18292
خَبِيتٌ
Contemptible, base, bad, corrupt, vile, or disapproved; a contemptible or morally bad thing or person.
Applied both to things and to persons. The form is reported as a dialectal variant or equivalent of خَبِيثٌ, with textual uncertainty in the cited material.
- Lane · entry 18293
مُخْبِتٌ
Still or motionless.
A rare reported use, distinct from the Quranic active-participle sense of humble submission.
- Lane · entry 18294
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Form IV Quran citation is normalized to the dictionary form أَخْبَتَ, and the Quranic nominal is normalized from مُخْبِتِينَ to مُخْبِتٌ.
The rare خَبِيتٌ entry is retained separately because its relation to خَبِيثٌ and the cited wording are reported with dialectal or textual uncertainty.
Historical citation notation in the lexical evidence is not used as a modern verse location; Quran examples follow the independently supplied QAC locations.